ATLANTIC-CAMTRAPS: a dataset of medium and large terrestrial mammal communities in the Atlantic Forest of South America

Our understanding of mammal ecology has always been hindered by the difficulties of observing species in closed tropical forests. Camera trapping has become a major advance for monitoring terrestrial mammals in biodiversity rich ecosystems. Here we compiled one of the largest datasets of inventories of terrestrial mammal communities for the Neotropical region based on camera trapping studies. The dataset comprises 170 surveys of medium to large terrestrial mammals using camera traps conducted in 144 areas by 74 studies, covering six vegetation types of tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of South America (Brazil and Argentina), and present data on species composition and richness. The complete dataset comprises 53,438 independent records of 83 species of mammals, includes 10 species of marsupials, 15 rodents, 20 carnivores, eight ungulates and six armadillos. Species richness averaged 13 species (±6.07 SD) per site. Only six species occurred in more than 50% of the sites: the domestic dog Canis familiaris, crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous, tayra Eira barbara, south American coati Nasua nasua, crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus and the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. The information contained in this dataset can be used to understand macroecological patterns of biodiversity, community, and population structure, but also to evaluate the ecological consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and trophic interactions. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of Americ

Fluctuating asymmetry, leaf thickness and herbivory in Tibouchina granulosa: an altitudinal gradient analysis

Gradient of stressful conditions affect plant physiological and morphological traits. Previous studies have shown that plants located at higher altitudes might exhibit higher levels of both fluctuating asymmetry and leaf thickness. Although it is expected that higher fluctuating asymmetry levels should be accompanied by higher leaf consumption by herbivores, lower herbivory could be expected for elevated leaf thickness. Aiming to investigate this contradiction our objective was to determine the effects of altitude on fluctuating asymmetry and leaf thickness, and evaluate the importance of these two morphological traits on herbivory levels of Tibouchina granulosa Cogn. (Melastomatecea) in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The study was conducted in southern Brazil, along a continuous altitudinal gradient raging from 1275 to 1950 m, where we measured fluctuating asymmetry, leaf thickness and herbivory from leaves of 29 individuals of T. granulosa. There was a positive effect of altitude on both fluctuating asymmetry and leaf thickness but only fluctuating asymmetry was related to herbivore. Our results suggest that as altitude increases plants face more stressful conditions, leading to higher fluctuating asymmetry. This may lead to a higher nutritional quality of leaves and herbivores may use leaf asymmetry as a cue for plant quality. The lack of a relationship between leaf thickness and herbivory gives us evidence that, in the studied location, leaf thickness is not primarily used as plant defense and probably has other functions related, for example, to water, solar radiation, and nutrient stresses. These results may be considered a baseline for the understanding on how altitudinal stress and potential herbivory pressure influence plant populations

Live-trapping Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis): traps, baits, injuries, immobilization and costs

The capture of wild animals can provide important information on community structure, population dynamics, home range size, activity patterns, habitat use, denning, social behavior and health status. The objective of this study was to describe the method of capture with details on baits, injuries, non-target captures, anesthesia and costs, to evaluate its success as part of a health evaluation program of ocelots in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest Reserve. From a total of 1,011 trap-night effort in 86 days, we had 68 capture events composed of ocelots (22%, n=15) and non-target species (78%, n = 53). We captured 10 individual ocelots in 15 capture events, corresponding to 5.7 days to capture one ocelot. Capture efficiency was 14.8 ocelots/1,000 trap-nights effort. We suggest capture methods should be selected and implemented based on the following criteria: (i) high capture efficiency; (ii) high selectivity; (iii) low injury rate; (iv) high immobilization suitability; and (v) low costs, in order to enable comparisons of studies from different research groups and from different study areas, allowing a deliberate choice of the best method.A captura de animais selvagens é capaz de proporcionar informações importantes acerca da estrutura da comunidade, dinâmica populacional, tamanho das áreas de vida, uso dos hábitats, locais de toca, comportamento social e estado de saúde. Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever o método de captura enfatizando as iscas utilizadas, ferimentos, capturas de espécies não-alvo, anestesia e custos, para avaliar o sucesso de captura como parte de um programa de avaliação de saúde de jaguatiricas numa reserva de Mata Atlântica no Brasil. De um de esforço total de 1.011 armadilhas-noite em 86 dias, nós tivemos 68 eventos de captura compostos de jaguatiricas (22%, n= 15) e espécies não-alvo (78%, n= 53). Nós capturamos 10 indivíduos diferentes em 15 eventos de captura, correspondendo a 5,7 dias para capturar uma jaguatirica. A eficiência de captura foi de 14,8 jaguatiricas/1.000 armadilhas-noite. Nós sugerimos que os métodos de captura deveriam ser selecionados e implementados com base nos seguintes critérios: (i) alta eficiência de captura; (ii) alta seletividade; (iii) baixa taxa de ferimentos; (iv) alta adequação de imobilização; e (v) baixos custos, de forma a viabilizar comparações de estudos de diferentes grupos e diferentes áreas, permitindo a escolha do melhor método

ATLANTIC-CAMTRAPS: a dataset of medium and large terrestrial mammal communities in the Atlantic Forest of South America

Our understanding of mammal ecology has always been hindered by the difficulties of observing species in closed tropical forests. Camera trapping has become a major advance for monitoring terrestrial mammals in biodiversity rich ecosystems. Here we compiled one of the largest datasets of inventories of terrestrial mammal communities for the Neotropical region based on camera trapping studies. The dataset comprises 170 surveys of medium to large terrestrial mammals using camera traps conducted in 144 areas by 74 studies, covering six vegetation types of tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of South America (Brazil and Argentina), and present data on species composition and richness. The complete dataset comprises 53,438 independent records of 83 species of mammals, includes 10 species of marsupials, 15 rodents, 20 carnivores, eight ungulates and six armadillos. Species richness averaged 13 species (±6.07 SD) per site. Only six species occurred in more than 50% of the sites: the domestic dog Canis familiaris, crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous, tayra Eira barbara, south American coati Nasua nasua, crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus and the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. The information contained in this dataset can be used to understand macroecological patterns of biodiversity, community, and population structure, but also to evaluate the ecological consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and trophic interactions. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of Americ